“Hi.”
“I’m glad you’re working tonight, I’ve been meaning to call you, but things have been crazy with work.”
“Oh. That’s all right.” I played it off, trying to pretend I hadn’t spent the last few weeks over-analyzing my silent phone.
He leaned in slightly. “I know it’s last minute, but any chance you want to go out tomorrow night?”
Was he serious? After ignoring me for two weeks I was supposed to go out with him last minute? “Sorry. I have plans.”
“Oh.” His face fell. “I knew it was too much to hope for, but I had such a great time with you the other day, and I’d love to see you again.” His puppy-dog face wouldn’t work on me. I didn’t need to deal with being someone’s fallback date.
I glanced at Brody. Was he hearing this?
I wanted to say something snarky, but my polite side won out. “I had a nice time too, but I already have plans.”
“Maybe another time, then?” His voice was hopeful. “If I give you more notice?”
“Maybe.”
“Excuse me.” For once I appreciated being interrupted by a customer.
“Sorry, I have to work.” I walked away, still not sure what to make of Colin’s apparent interest. Had that girl dumped him? Did he want to date multiple people? Had he forgotten about me until he saw me at the bar?
“Where’s your girlfriend?” Macon asked Colin, surprising me enough that I spilled a beer. Thankfully, it didn’t get all over the girl who ordered it.
I mopped up the mess and waited for his answer. “Girlfriend? I don’t have one. Didn’t you hear me pathetically asking Maddy out?”
Macon wasn’t deterred. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t.”
I dared to glance over at Colin. He looked confused. “The only dates I’ve been on in the last few months were both with Maddy.”
“Are you sure?” Brody asked.
I groaned and reminded myself to stop telling Macon everything. He couldn’t keep anything to himself. I quickly turned away.
“Yeah, I’d know.”
I could practically feel Colin’s eyes boring into the back of my head, but I didn’t turn around again. Maybe I misread what he was doing with the girl. They weren’t kissing or anything. In theory, it could have been a friend.
“I wouldn’t mind a girlfriend though,” Colin called loud enough for me to hear. I turned in time to watch him walk away from the bar.
“Huh. Would you look at that?” Macon watched Colin walk toward the exit.
“What?” I checked my shirt, searching for an explanation for why Macon was staring at me.
“No mystery girl, and he wants to see you again.”
“Yeah, he had his chance.”
“Maybe he really was busy with work.”
“Too busy to call once in two weeks?” Usually, I wasn’t that girl. I didn’t sit around moping about a guy who never called, but I always knew when it was going to happen. I could read people, and although I wouldn’t have admitted it out loud, I had wanted to see him again.
“I’m not saying you should give him another chance, but at least stop worrying about whether you’re a bad kisser.” Brody laughed.
“I don’t think I’m a bad kisser. I figured the kiss didn’t do it for him.”
“So what are your big plans tomorrow night?” Macon reached over and filled his empty glass with water. I hated when he did things like that. Why couldn’t he ask like a normal person?
“I don’t have any.” Not yet at least. Seeing Colin gave me new determination to find another date.
“Ohhhh,” Macon said. “Don’t let him catch you in that one.”
“I’ll find plans.” I felt pretty confident. Usually when I wanted to get attention, I found it. The problem was, it wasn’t always the right kind.
Macon took off as soon as Brody got back to work, and I was left at a nearly empty bar. I talked to Mary for a while before she left when she got a new table in her section. The kitchen was getting ready to close, but Max was pretty lenient when it came to late-night diners.
I studied the new diner, who was eating alone. He was good looking, probably in his late twenties, and every time I looked over, he was looking at me. Why was a guy like that eating alone? There had to be a story there. If someone came in alone, they almost always came right to the bar. This guy seemed perfectly content and confident to sit by himself at a table.
A group of guys came in and sat down at the bar, distracting me from the lone diner.
“Hey, can I get you guys something?” As much as I wasn’t looking forward to dealing with customers, they fit the demographic that generally tipped me well.
“Yeah. We’ll take a round of jager shots.”
“Sure.” I took out six shot glasses and poured the shots. I wasn’t a shot person, but I understand the draw. Quick, easy, and potent. There was also a social aspect to shots that appealed to most people on some level.
I placed a shot down in front of each guy and turned my attention back to the lone diner.
“Can we get another round?” one of the guys asked.
“Sure.” I poured them again.
“What’s your name?” The guy directly in front of me asked.
“Maddy.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“Thanks.” I was always more comfortable talking to guys my own age, for better or worse.
“Cool. Cool. I’m Davis.” He held out his hand.
“Hi.” I accepted the handshake. I’d play along if the conversation stayed clean.
“Have you worked here long?” He slid his empty shot glass around on the bar top.
“Just since May.”
“Oh cool. We go to NC State, but we’re in town for Gary’s bachelor party.” He gestured to a guy with auburn hair sitting a few stools down.
“Oh. Nice.”
“When do you get off?”
I held back a groan. Did he think I was going to hook up with him? “Later.”
He laughed, as though I’d said the funniest joke. “No, really. I’d love to hang out. You’re pretty.”
“Does that usually work for you?” There was something about being behind the bar that made me better at turning down male advances. It’s like I had an alter ego—sexy and badass Maddy.
“I don’t know. I’ve never used it before.”
Davis now had a few of his buddies’ attention, and I knew it was about to get worse. “It’s not working. You guys want another round?”
“Do you come with it?” the supposed groom-to-be asked.
“You couldn’t handle me if I did.” I was on a roll.
“Oh yeah? You really think that?”
“Yes.” I crossed my arms. Macon would be dying if he’d been there to listen.
“Care to let me prove you wrong?” He leaned forward slightly.
“Aren’t you engaged?”
He looked down the row at his friends, probably trying to figure out who ratted him out. Finally, he smirked. “She’s not here.”
“Ugh.” I walked to the other side of the bar. I shouldn’t have started in with these guys. Their tip would hopefully make it worth it. I looked back at Mary’s section, but the diner was gone.
“Do you think I could handle you?” There he was, the solo diner, standing in front of me. I may have miscalculated his age a little. He was probably in his thirties.
“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell.” I tried for seductive as I checked him out more. He wore a fitted dress shirt that made me wonder what was underneath. Aside from Colin, I’d never dated a guy more than a year or two older than me. It sounded and looked appealing.
“Yeah? Well, at least you didn’t write me off as quickly as those guys.” He spoke loudly enough that the whole row of college guys could hear. Not that it would have been hard to get their attention. Although they hadn’t stopped jeering since I turned the disgusting groom-to-be dow
n, they were watching us with interest.
“I don’t waste my time on boys.”
Lone Diner smiled. “I understand that completely. I’m Gabriel.” He held out his hand.
He had to be kidding. That name fit way too well. He could have easily walked off the pages of one of those fallen angel books that sometimes tempted me to stay up reading them on my e-reader. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Maddy.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” He held onto my hand and I half expected him to kiss it. “Are you working tomorrow night?”
“No. I’m off.”
“Great. Give me your address, I’ll pick you up at eight.”
A thrill ran through me. This was so not Maddy it was insane, but why not? “How about I meet you there.” I could be adventurous without being stupid. Getting in a stranger’s car wasn’t the best idea. Especially a stranger who looked and talked like this one.
“Fair enough. North Banks at eight o’clock. Let me see your phone.”
I handed it over, not surprised to watch him typing in a number and calling it before returning it to me.
He checked his own phone before pocketing it. “See you then.”
“Looking forward to it.”
Gabriel walked away.
Davis scowled “Cold. That was cold.”
“Only for you guys.”
***
“You seem adventurous. Is that assessment accurate?” Gabriel sipped his red wine, watching me intently as if my answer could change the fate of the world. We hadn’t ordered dinner yet, but I was enjoying the slow pace of the date. I still couldn’t believe I was even out with him, but at least I had an excuse for why I turned Colin down.
We’d been talking about how much we loved the beach in winter when he abruptly changed the conversation.
“Uh, sometimes.” After a glass and a half of wine, I was feeling somewhat adventurous. I was on a date with an older guy named Gabriel, wasn’t I?
“Yeah?” He leaned back in his chair, not bothering to hide that he was clearly undressing me with his mind.
I didn’t mind as much as I usually would. “Why?”
“I’ve been looking for an adventurous woman.”
I could play along for a while. If I could do it behind the bar, I theoretically should have been able to pull it off other times. “I guess for me it depends on the adventure…and who it’s with.” I sipped my wine, keeping my eyes on him.
“What if the adventure was who it was with?” He found my leg under the table, rubbing his against mine.
“Meaning?”
“Well, there’s someone I want you to meet.” He smiled, the kind of smile that was supposed to be disarming, but came across as a little scary.
“I’m not sure we’re on the same page here…” I struggled to figure out where the conversation was going. I only had one guess, and it wasn’t one I’d ever considered.
He gestured to someone behind me. I turned. I’m not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t the striking brunette walking over to us.
She smiled before kissing Gabriel hard on the mouth. I watched in slight shock while they kissed each other. Then, as suddenly as the kiss started, it stopped, and the woman took a seat between us. “Hi, you must be Maddy.”
“Hi…”
“Maddy, this is Suzanne.” He touched her arm in a way that you would only do to someone you’re sleeping with, and I knew my guess had been correct.
I wasn’t ready to admit how right I was. I was still trying to figure out a way to excuse myself from the situation. “Oh. And she is your…”
“Wife.” She said it with a huge smile.
“Uh, what?” My stomach did summersaults. Why was she smiling? “I swear I had no idea he was married.” Maybe I was wrong. Was this some sort of prime-time TV trap?
Suzanne reached out and placed her hand on mine. Her nails were long and painted jet-black. “It’s all right. No one’s upset with you.”
“Then what’s going on here?” I glanced around for hidden cameras. With so many reality shows nowadays, it could easily be one. Maybe it was a prank show set up by Macon?
“That’s where the adventurous part comes in.” Gabriel took my other hand.
“Umm, I’m going to go.” I’d walked into the mess myself, but that didn’t make it any better. A lever that would send me through the floor would have been very convenient at the moment.
“Wait. Are we making you uncomfortable?”
“Very.”
Neither let go of my hands, so I started to push back my chair.
Suzanne scooted her chair closer to mine. “We haven’t done this before either, but we’ve been looking for the right person.”
“Right. Well, I’m not that person.” TV show or not, was Macon behind it? If my roommates had been at the Grille when Gabriel came in, I would have been sure of it.
“Wouldn’t you at least like to try?”
I shook my head vehemently. “Not a chance. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” I pushed off their hands and headed to the entrance.
Gabriel followed after. “Hey, Maddy. Sorry. I guess I assumed you’d be up for it.”
I spun around to face him. “Why would you assume that?”
“I heard the way you talked to those guys. Plus, you’re a bartender.”
“That was an act. It’s the only way to survive the job.”
“It was a very convincing act. Are you sure you don’t want to come home with us? Just see where it goes? You can leave anytime.”
I groaned. “Please lose my phone number.”
I started walking away from the restaurant. “Wait. Where’s your car? How are you getting home?”
“I’m all set. Bye.” I sped up, looking behind me to make sure he wasn’t following before pulling out my phone and calling Brody. I didn’t want to deal with Macon’s teasing. It was going to be bad whether or not he was involved. Brody’s phone went to voicemail. I wasn’t surprised, he was working. I tried Macon next. He picked up right away. “Where are you?”
“Home.”
“Why aren’t you laughing?”
“Why would I be laughing?”
“So you weren’t in on tonight’s date from hell?” I asked, hoping he had been. Otherwise, my night was just that much weirder.
“It didn’t go well?”
“You swear you have no idea what I’m talking about?”
“Yes.”
“I hope you’re right.” I hung up, not in the mood to deal with asking him to pick me up. I was only a few blocks from the Grille, so I headed to work. Brody would be getting off in twenty minutes, and I’d catch a ride.
I slumped down on a bench outside. Had that actually happened? Had I really been propositioned by a couple to be their third? Those sorts of things happened in movies, not my life. I guess it’s what I got for talking the talk with nothing to back it up.
I ran over my conversation in the Grille the night before. “I don’t think you can handle me.” Yeah, I could understand why someone might think I was a little adventurous. Still, talking up my sexual appetite was different than wanting to get involved with a husband and wife. I hoped that eventually I’d look back on the night and laugh, but I wasn’t ready to do that yet.
I sat on that bench waiting, trying to think about anything but Gabriel and Suzanne. The problem is that my brain immediately went to both Lyle and Colin—making me think about how much I wanted both of them, and reminding me of how long it had been since I’d had sex.
Chapter Eight
I walked up to the counter at Duck Donuts wanting to satisfy my need for a cake donut with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. It wasn’t the healthiest breakfast, but I’m usually not the most health-conscious person. I ordered the donut and a coffee, and walked over to fill my cup. I poured half-and-half in. If I was eating a donut, there was no reason to skimp on the creamer.
I picked up my donut and walked outside. The one downside to riding a bike was h
aving nowhere to put your coffee. I wasn’t very good at the ‘riding one handed’ thing. I’d have to walk my bike.
“Maddy, hey!” Colin caught up with me easily. Walking a bike while holding coffee requires a slow and steady pace.
“Hey.” Despite myself, I was happy to see him.
“Where are you headed? You aren’t planning to walk your bike all the way home, are you?”
“Oh no.” Even I wasn’t that crazy. “I’m heading over to the park.”
“Oh cool. Mind if I join you?” He held up his bag and coffee. I guess I wasn’t the only one in the mood for fried dough that morning.
“Sure.”
“Can I help you with that?” He gestured to the bag and cup balancing precariously in one hand.
“Thanks.” I awkwardly handed them over, relieved the piping hot coffee didn’t spill.
“I’m glad I ran into you, I really am sorry I didn’t call.”
I shrugged—or kind of did. Even with two hands it took some work to push my bike through the grass. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not. I screwed things up with the first girl who’s really interested me in years. There’s nothing fine about it.”
“Don’t make a bigger deal out of it then it is. We went out a few times, you don’t owe me anything.”
“Does that mean you’re going to give me another chance?” he asked with a note of excitement in his voice.
I didn’t answer right away. On the one hand, he’d dropped the ball. On the other hand, he probably wouldn’t try to talk me into a threesome with his wife. “Sure.”
“Yeah? Cool. When are you free? We’ll work around your schedule this time.”
I readjusted my hold on the handlebar. My hand was getting stiff. “I have Tuesday and Wednesday off.”
“Great. Tuesday night then?”
I nodded. “Sure. When and where?”
“My place at seven?”
“Your place?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about the suggestion. Sex with Colin sounded good—but like many things in life, just because something is good doesn’t mean you should indulge in it. Kind of like eating the second piece of cake—or a cake donut.
“I want to make you dinner.” He smiled. “Absolutely no expectations for any non-food dessert, I promise.”
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